jazz9

OK, so most of you on here know I have been searching for answers for this Strad. Well, I bought it and am now ecstatic to have it. Anyway, I am looking to seriously overhaul this horn. First of all, I am looking for a simple way to get very stubborn water marks off the bell and around the water key. I want to polish this horn up very nice and keep it that way.

Also, I would like to purchase some Harrelson heavy caps for it. I love the way the look on a horn, and I think they would do wonders for my orchestral tone.

I would like to also get a Harrelson rounded tuning slide. I also love the way they look and I think it would open the horn up a lot.

I want to put a leather valve casing protector on it to prevent as much wear as I can. This is only the beginning, and I wanted to know if any of you had done this kind of thing to a used Strad before. Any help or suggestions against and for what I am doing are greatly appreciated.

Brass crusader

Jazz,
You seem to be really excited about your new horn. I feel the same way every time I play any different horn. Do you have any pictures of the horn?
As far as appearances go, my personal preference is to let it tarnish and get dirty, just not on the inside. The only horn that I care about the lacquer on is my '47 Olds Special, that came with immaculate original laquer. It's one of my jazz horns.
My Xeno has water marks all over the bell and tuning slide, I kinda like it. However, a polishing cloth can be ordered from any music store. I use Flitz on raw brass. You'd be best off talking to a tech.
As far as the other accessories go, try them out before you buy them, I thought about a set of caps for my Xeno, but I like the way it plays right now, the Harrellson sets are a bit too pricy for me to try them out. I've heard great things about the MK tuning slides for Strads.

Good Luck

Vulgano Brother

Congratulations on finding a fine horn!

As far as the outside of the trumpet goes, a soft polishing cloth should be enough to keep it looking nice, but rather than shining the horn I would advise playing it, and keeping the inside of the horn immacualte. The wear marks on the outside will become your signature, your personal badge of honor.

There is a mindset that decrees that a perfect looking trumpet is the mark or a fine player, but almost all pros don't care how a trumpet looks, but they do care how it plays.

If you spend your time pondering how the horn sounds rather than how it looks, you'll be fine--any add-ons should be functional rather than cosmetic. It is far better to be a fine player of an average horn than an average player of a great horn.

You are the instrument, the horn is but a tool. It sounds as if you have gotten a fine tool; now amaze us with what you can do with it.

Don't worry--the community of trumpeters are extremely patient, and we do salute a job well done.

Play.

Richard Oliver

Not meaning to be a wet blanket at all. Consider do nothing to your horn but keeping it nice and shiny, giving it a good bath and keeping it clean on the inside for a good period of time before you begin modifying it's sound.

Learn the sound you make on it first before tweaking says I. Give it a real go. Play it stock at home during practice, in groups, and performances. 6 months isn't a crazy "test period" especially since school is just about out.

Just because we can tweak doesn't mean we should. Advertising exists to induce you to spend money.

Practice room conquests trump tweaks any day for a guy like me. Don't know if the same applies to a guy like you.

ENJOY your new baby!!

rowuk

Yes! It takes time to figure out where you are now, do that before spending ANY money. There are plenty of great players WITHOUT heavy caps and round tuning slides getting all sorts of music played well. I think you should give the horn at least 6 months to a year chance before trying to make it something that it isn't.

Original_Username

I'd have to agree with what a lot of other people are saying. It might be too impulsive to start immediately modifying your horn now. Wait a while for those Harrelson caps and slides (they don't looks too cheap either) and just test the horn.

In terms of cleaning the trumpet, if a cloth doesn't work, I'd just go ahead and take it to a shop and get it professionally cleaned.

jazz9

OK. I'll just wait. I hope everyone sees that I'm a good player on a good horn, but I know for sure that looks aren't even close to being important. Thanks everyone for the support on the new horn!

Brass crusader

Jazz,
Just curious... Do you know what year your Bach is? Is it silver or lacquer? Any big dents or dings, etc? Just wondering.

Let us know how it plays!!

Pedal C

Watch out with the leather valve guard. I used to have one on my Bach C and the edge wore a big groove into the knuckle where the bell goes into the first valve casing. Under the third slide too. Hopefully your cover is made better.

flugelgirl

Use a guard with a good lining and you won't have any problems. I use protec guards on my horns. Some of my coworkers use leather specialties - both are good.